Donald Meyer

DONALD C. "DON" MEYER

Dyersville

Donald C. "Don" Meyer, 90, of Dyersville, died peacefully on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, at home.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 13, from 2 to 7 p.m. Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave. SW in Dyersville, where there will be a Knights of Columbus Honor Guard in place from 4 to 6 p.m., followed by an American Legion service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue Saturday, Jan. 14, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Kramer Funeral Home before the funeral service.

The funeral celebration will be held Saturday, Jan. 14, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville. Burial will follow in St. Francis Cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by American Legion Post 137. The Rev. Richard Ament will officiate, with the Rev. Dennis Quint, the Rev. Joseph Hauer, the Rev. Timothy Lenchak and the Rev. Al Vorwald as concelebrants and Deacon Jim Steger assisting.

Don was born Nov. 4, 1926, in Dyersville, son of Leo and Loretta (Weber) Meyer. He attended St. Francis Xavier schools and graduated from Coyne Electrical School of Chicago in 1948. Don served honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II and was proud to be part of one of the 2014 Honor Flights.

On June 26, 1954, he married Helen Ament at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Worthington. Don and Helen were blessed with 10 children, 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Don's entrepreneurial spirit began shortly after his graduation from Coyne Electrical School of Chicago. After his studies and training in electricity and refrigeration, he began selling and installing Youngstown kitchens along with Frigidaire appliances. Becoming one of Frigidaire's youngest franchisees, Don went on to earn industry awards for highest sales and outstanding service.

In 1949, under the name of Home Appliance Co., Don expanded his business to include residential and commercial mechanical services. In 1975, Don entered a business venture with his three brothers and under Meyer Brothers Development Co., developed West Linden Subdivision. In 1979, he purchased Ed Wedewer Construction Co. With this purchase Meyer Construction Co. was formed. The company entered into the field of commercial and industrial construction. In 1982, Don began the development of Stone Creek Shopping Center. In 1988, he sold the company he founded, Home Appliance, and became the owner and operator of Ace Hardware, which was located within the shopping center. In 1996, he retired from the hardware business and sold it to his two daughters. He continued ownership and management of the shopping center until he sold it in 2005.

Don actively served the community as a member of the Merchants Committee, Dyersville Chamber of Commerce, Dyersville City Council, Dyersville Development Commission and Dyersville Industries. Don also was a member of the Jaycees and Lions Club. In 1980, he received the Outstanding Community Service award from the Jaycees. In 2002, because of his outstanding service to his community, he was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Lions Club.

Don was instrumental in the development of Dyersville Community Hospital. As a representative of the Dyersville Community Hospital Corporation board, Don accepted chairmanship of the Building Committee and also served as co-chairman of the fund drive to build the hospital.

As a devout Catholic, Don was actively involved in his parish, St. Francis Xavier Church. He served on the fund drive committee to help build Beckman High School, served as president of Beckman High School from 1975 to 1982, and also served as an honorary chairman for St. Francis Xavier Grade School fund drive. As a man of great faith, he tried to attend Mass daily and enjoyed participating as a Eucharistic minister and as Fourth Degree Knight.

Don enjoyed working outdoors, and he loved nature. Before moving to town, Don and Helen had a wonderful home and acreage in the country. As an avid outdoorsman, Don converted the open land into a large and extensive tree farm. Don also enjoyed his time with family at their cabin on Lake Delhi, traveling, golfing, woodworking, gardening, playing cards and taking annual fishing trips to Minnesota and Canada.

Don is survived by his wife of 62 years, Helen Ament Meyer; 10 children: Rachele (Doug) Rickels of Worthington, Pam Meyer of Dyersville, Clyde (Nanci La Susa) Meyer of Naperville, Ill., Dennis Meyer (Lizbeth McDow) of Westminster, Colo., Mary Meyer of Dyersville, John (Laurie Bildstein) Meyer of Dyersville, Teresa (Matt) Bockenstedt of Dyersville, Mark (Darla Carithers) Meyer of Dubuque, Geralyn Maloney of San Diego, Calif., and Chris Meyer of Sacramento, Calif.; 15 grandchildren: Dr. Michael (Dr. Kelsey Barnes) Rickels of Madison, Wis., Meghan (Tyler) Raeder of Dubuque, Rebekah Rickels (Dr. Max Jepson) of Fort Pierre, S.D., Kristin Rickels (Matt Merta) of San Antonio, Texas, Samuel Meyer (Chloe Lewis) of Chicago, Joseph Meyer of Naperville, Ill., Josh Meyer (Kyra Brandt) of Frederick, M.D., Michelle Meyer (Tyrell Chostner) of Westminster, Colo., Ben Bockenstedt (Jessica Kinneer) of Cedar Falls, Katelin Bockenstedt (Joe Bredahl) of Dyersville, Justin Meyer of Dyersville, Morgan Meyer of Austin, Texas, Samantha Meyer (Jeff Sullivan) of Ames, Thomas Meyer of Edgewood, Md., and Andrew Meyer of Dubuque; two stepgranddaughters, Kyra and Paige Howieson of Dubuque; two great-grandchildren, Laurel and Caroline Raeder of Dubuque; two brothers, Jim (Sheila) and Kenneth (Kathy) of Dyersville; four sisters, Mary Jane (Harry) Steger of Edgewood, Betty (Stan) McLane of Dyersville, Joyce (Ron) Drey of Mesa, Ariz., Janice (Ron) Alfred of Ames; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Meyer and Pat Meyer of Dyersville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Loretta Meyer; and siblings, Loras (1999), Dick (2005), John and Anne (in infancy).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Divine Word College, St. Francis Xavier Resurrection Choir and Mercy Medical Center Dyersville (Skilled Nursing).

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.